To explore the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture (EA) in the treatment of childhood autism (CA) and evaluate its effectiveness using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

A total of 55 CA patients (4.52 +/- 2.73 years) were enrolled in this study. All patients received EA treatments and were examined by SPECT before and after treatments.

Following treatment, the intracerebral multiple focal radioactivity distribution defect areas of CA patients were observed to be partially filled. Specifically, significant differences in the ratios of regional cerebral blood flow and global cerebral blood flow before (Fb) and after (Fe) EA treatment in different lesions were observed (in the left prefrontal cortex, t=5.01, P < 0.01; in the right prefrontal cortex, t=2.32, P < 0.05; in the left temporal lobe, t=4.54, P < 0.01; in the right temporal lobe, t=2.90, P < 0.05; in the left Broca′s area, t=5.82, P < 0.01). After EA treatment, the patients exhibited symptomatic relief.

EA is useful to treat CA and SPECT can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment.